Paul's trip to India

30/07/2023

Well my trip is over. I'm about to pack my bags, try and sleep a little before the taxi comes at stupid o'clock.

It's been the most interesting, amazing, wonderful, emotional and inspiring trip ever. I've learned so much about myself. For one, I can cope with doing big things by myself!
My old man is at rest in exactly the kind of place I had pictured In my head. I'm so happy.
Thank you for following the page. I'm now gonna hope time goes fast so I can get back to my son who I've missed so much!

अलविदा
Paul

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30/07/2023

The final day!
Spend the day down at Marina beach, the second longest urban beach in the world. Really beautiful but was so so hot. I may have Indian genes but my skin is 100% Irish so couldn't sit there long 🥵

Also visited St Thomas Catholic cathedral. Stunning. St Thomas has his remains there. Was so beautiful.

Lots of people shouting at me today. Dont know why. One had perfect English and said because I wouldn't get in his Rickshaw I was spoiling small businesses in India! I replied yes but I hope we can remain friends. He changed to Hindi and shouted more.
Another bloke approached me and asked if I was dollar. I said no they split up years ago. He laughed. I laughed. I'm aware he meant the currency and didn't understand my reply but I'm taking it as I'm hilarious in India!

30/07/2023

Had a fight with a cow. Cow called the cops

29/07/2023

Tonights buffet In the restaurant. Thank god it was empty. As I walk away the sauce shouts..
'You look more like a stuffed pepper than these do mate'
'Bet you've never used the word stuffed at meal time mate'
😭😭😭

29/07/2023

Day 8.
My hotel is rammed today! There Is people in my pool and everything. Asked Sukan to tell this bloke to get out my favourite seat. She said no. That's marriage for you. Would have been a yes before yesterday.

Today I went back to Buckingham Boulevard. My dads final resting place. Such a lovely quiet private estate where the people grow their own plants and herbs. Security didn't stop me but all the dogs remembered me from getting in the swamp and came to let me know!

The injury from whatever bit me in the swamp has gone down. But I'm still saying I saw a Croc just before the bite. You will all stick to that story ok 👊

28/07/2023

The queues for a taxi on a Friday night are ridiculous here.

28/07/2023

Day 7.
Chill, culture and chill again day. Went to the wonderful Dakshinachitra Heritage museum. Set out in a village style environment. Really interesting and great dancers.

28/07/2023

🙌✌️

28/07/2023

My friend Sakon. Has looked after me all week. When she hasn't seen me she wants to known where I have been. I said 'what are you my wife?'
She didn't understand my accent or sarcasm and replied 'I do'. I'm now off to get married yet again.
3 divorce Paul on his way woooo hoooo

27/07/2023

Day 6
With all that stress lifted off me it was chill day!
Went to the lovely town of Uthandi. Beautiful beach. I clearly am the only tourist around. Whole thing to myself!
Evening resting feet. Realised I've walked 30 miles this week!!!

27/07/2023

Me, being removed from the site where I lay my dads ashes 🤣

27/07/2023

Day 6
This morning I scattered my dads ashes. Today is the 22nd anniversary of my mums death so it was the perfect day.
I found a private road which I went down. Because it was a money place their part of the lake was beautiful. The perfect place for the ashes and exactly what i pictured in my head.
Only problem was the grass around the water was a swamp and there was a security guard and loads of dogs barking at me.
But nothing was stopping me so I rushed past straight in. Sunk straight away. Mud up to my knees and climbed across to the edge of the water. Laid the ashes to rest. Said a few words but was sinking more so had to leave. Lost my flip flops. Thats £1 ill never see again.
Climbed out of the water. Burst out laughing. If my dad was watching from above he would have been shouting his head off at me!
Walked off. Security man looked at me with his mouth wide open. Dogs escorted me off the premises.
The fitting way to lay my crazy dad to rest. A crazy moment with laughter. Perfect.
Sleep well dad. You're home now.
🙏❤

26/07/2023

Day 5
One of my worst days of my life. And not for the reasons I anticipated. Took dad's ashes to the street he lived at. Two hours away from my hotel. I found his address. The place was like an end of world film. Kids sleeping in mud next to their mums. I'm sure I see two dead people. From their body position and Blankets over their heads with flies everywhere. Next to them people queued for food. Every turning I went down was worse. Kids begging. I'm not ashamed to say I walked the streets crying my eyes out. How could my dad have lived there. How can anyone live like that.

I found a lady that spoke English. Asked where the nearest lake was. I walked it. 5 miles. It was disgusting. The path ways to it had whole families living on them with no shelter.

So I took my dads ashes back to the hotel with me. No way I'm leaving him there.

One nice part. A little kid was on the floor down a tiny side street. He was looking me up and down with his mouth wide open. He ran off. Came back with four other kids. Im assuming they were asking for money but you can't give it to them. Told one of them to throw his ball to me. I volleyed it back to him. We had a kick about. I waved and left. And they waved with big smiles. Them smiles will stay with me forever. And hopefully will blot out everything else I see today.
Not many photos because I didnt want to take them.

25/07/2023

Day 4
Tomorrow I will be visiting my dads actual street he was from with his ashes so will be emptional. So today I had a calm day.
Lovely massage in the hotel. Wobbled out of it.
Swimming and chilling after. Played pool by myself and still lost 2-1.
Visited the Srinivasa Perumai temple this evening. Beautiful place with lovely people.
Went down an alley and got headbutted by a cow. They were lucky i was in a rush.
Managed to get across the main road despite the million bikes but only to help a dog across. A dog or a cow will be the end of me!

24/07/2023

Have decided I'm not talking to anymore stray dogs. Making me too goddam sad!

24/07/2023

Day 3.
What an amazing day.
Best way to see a place is to get lost. And man did I get lost! Walked ten miles. Saw the Great Lakes. Such poor communities who all smiled at me. Maybe because I'm such a pale tattooed man who stopped and talked to every dog!
Finally made it to the other side of the main road. I pulled out some Matrix s**t to avoid all the traffic.
There are no other tourists here. Just locals and me. Love it like that. Experiencing how my dad would have lived. Although he always said he hated the monkeys. Havent seen any but the cows are pricks...

24/07/2023

Think I'm being followed...

23/07/2023

Day two. A day to chill After that big journey and no sleep.
Went out exploring. So many things going on. Spoke to animals. Indian people can't pronounce Sachdev either. McDonald's sells chicken in their big macs. No one knows what a vegan is despite it being massively vegetarian. I bought a cloth carrier bag so I'd look like the locals but now I look like Roy Cropper.

If this is one of them find yourself trips I hope the self I find of me isn't on the other side of the road as I haven't worked out how to get across it yet 🤪

23/07/2023

A glass of Dads favourite whiskey (Teachers, don't put ice in it Paul), the cricket in a bar in his home town. Cheers Dad 🙏

22/07/2023

Todays first day. Arrived around 4pm local time after 20 hour journey. Indian people so lovely. Rushed me past the queues in the airport. Upgraded me to mystery posh area on the plane behind the curtain.

Still in shock at how many people are on the streets. Traffic was crazy. Cows strut around like John Travolta. Never seen so many motorbikes.

Loving the religious aspect of it. Clearly so important here. Tomorrow will proper explore...

22/07/2023

Wheres the bar 😵‍💫

20/07/2023

Chennai gets ready for tomorrow's arrival

18/07/2023

It
Just
Got
Real
😟

06/07/2023

A trip me and my dad had planned for years. For various reasons he couldnt go. This year he told me to go without him. I'll be heading to his home town on the 21st of July. A Journal and pictures of what i find each day. Rather than bore you all on social media, here is my journal page. If you follow its your own fault if I bore you!